Automatic switch mechanism.



UNIM'IO IWITOB IBOBAIIII.'

PPLIOTIOI "LID API. Il, Il".

` Patented Jun 15.1909'.`

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INVENTOR `BYV F. M. ORDER. UTOKATIO SWITCH IEOHIIBI. unlonlol nu nl. n, ml.

Patented June 15.1909.

" mvnnon K momqev -WITNESSE g UNITED sTA.Es PATENT OFFICE. Y

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lpeeltleatien o! Letten Patent.

'0. 904,087. Patonttl Inno 1B, 1009.

am ane apn u. isos. snm le. aaaen. v

To Min it mq? concern: 0 Jia is well known, the fault of many colli- Be it known tha I, Fna M. Olona, n citimonal at Vinvitching pointe on milwaya liee as at' aenot the United States, residing nt Ba City, m-the'county of Bay and lState of Mie an, 5 have invented certain new and useful mpmvemente in Automatic Switch Mechannains; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, auch ns will enable others t ekilled in the art to which it appertnins to make-and use the same.

My invention relatee to automatic switchee for railways.

One 'object of my invention ie to provide means for preventing collisions between n train on a siding and a train following in the eamo direction when the brakeman of the train on the aidmg fo te to throw the switch to leave 'the main trac eiear. $0 Another object ie to provide a switch with mechaniam 125 and operated by a ear device actua y the engineer.

'A further object is to plrovide means i'or looki the tiret train on t siding after tht` u me'i'i...

to clear the main track. v

A still further object is to provide means 'for automatically reeettingthe car device after the switch han been t rown. 80 A further object ls the provision of means for permitting the engineer to throw the car.

device into operative position. Another' object' is the provision of menne for disengaging the ear device from its opermeans until the cardevicc haa been reset. Still another object is to provide n switch capable of automatically yielding to permit. the of a traintraveling on the :nain track in a direction op ite to the switch. 404 Another object is t e provision of means for automatically throwin a pivotaily hupported car device to either imitl of its movement when it has dead center.

To theee and other ends m invention consiste incertain novel detai and combinatiene such as will be more lully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the'claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a pent tive view showing one ferm of. the

track* evice applied to a switch, Fig. 2 is al top plan view of the eamo, Fig. 3 ie a repective view of one form of car device, 1g. 4 is a detail view showing the switch bar cones struction and Fig. 5 ie a detail of the contact member in operative position.

been thrown by the'tollowing trainl with the brukcnian operating the switch. A freight or other train is ordered eide-tracked e0 or is switched oil the main line and the brakemnn forgets to cloee the switch to leave the main track clear. Another train following the tiret takes the witch instead of remaining on thc main track and crashes into the e5 l rear end of the tiret train or collidee head on with a train coming in the oppositedirection on the side track, because the engineer of the second train doen nor have time to apply hie brakes 'before taking the switch. 'l0

It inthe main obiect of my invention to provide means whereby auch disasters may e avoided, to whichond I have devised tho following construction ne one for accomplish i this purpose. 75

elerrm to the d'rawinga A, A, indicate the main ruck andB, B, the spur or eide track. I p

(Y, t', indicate the movable switch tongues conncctcd bv a switch bar (l), in thc usual 8,0 manner. 'l ie switch ha r i connu-lcd tothe switch stand.

In nccompliahing thc end desired, my intention ia toeqnip tho pilot of an engine with a contnct'mcmber o any suitable form 85 ndapted'to en age e. suitable track member connected to ti een-itch bar inench manner that the travel ol' the engine will cause the contact member to bcar against the track nicmbcr and' through auch track member, 90 closc thc switch to givc a clear passage over the main linc. As onc auch track meniber l may provide what lwillcall a glance rail, (2), whlc i is located neferably between the rails of the main trac The glance rail may be Us of the usual Tfrail construction, that' end ot the glance rail fart-hcet from the free ende of the switch tongues being secured to one of the vtice `(3l either-rigidly or Ipivotall ee shown nt '(4)1' 'lhe' opposite end ofythe ance vrail is seculrd to the switch har (l).

t is obvious thatthcrc must either be a thrust lmovement of the contact member relative tothe engine to move the track mcmbcrawl f thus close the switch or else the contact mem- 105 ber muy be stationary as regards lateral movement which willanakc it neeesearyto arrange the track member atan angle to the path of travel of the contant member.

In thc prem-ni construction l have' shown 110 thf` track member extending obliquely reletivc to thc path of travel lot' thc contact member. lleneewlien the contact member tion to the other. Hence it will be lseen that is thrown into operative position it will engage the track nieinher and l'oreethe latter together with the switch tongues laterallyr to close the switch. My invent-ion however contemplates further developments. It is common to connect a'rigid switch'liar to a switch stand comprising a casing (5), in which is jooriniled a semaphore shaft (o) carrying c signal (7). The shaft is roteted by means of u lever (8) locked in any suitsble manner. In the present instance' 1 have shown euch lever (8) as being iivotally connected tothe shaft and receive le in re ceases (9) in the casing to lock the switch iii o ienor closed position. lt is obvious that i e switch is provided with such har and locking means, it would be impossible to throw the switch by' the engagement. of the contact and track meinbers as shown. I therefore provide a yielding connection extendin between the .switch tongues and semiip ore shaft, such connection permitting the switch to be locked in either ol its posi-v tions end yet ellowin the switch to be thrown'lroin open to c osed position by n train on the mein track vwhenapproaching the o n switch. It also permits s train eproec 'n'g en open switch, onthe mein line, rom the opposite direction to swing the switch tongues over as it passes, t e switch ton eegetuming to open position s'fter the t t hes passed.' Ae one'such yielding connection I may provide'the switch har (i).

with e socket (10) adapted to telesco ically receive e rod, .(11), the outer end of w iich is connected to e crank (12) on the semaphore shalt. Thet endet the rod received in the socket (10) is slotted es at (13). A. pin (14) removably held in the socket v extends through thc-slot in the rod to permit the switch tongues tobe toni oral-ily thrown :Ker by e trein on the main ine approaching e o the pino rating to permit e relativo movement of t e switch bar and rod while retainin g them sg'einst disconnection. As one ineens for automatically locking the rod and bei' in teleecoped position I may use t ie following construction: 'ilie socket ma vided with en a ierture (15) adaptet to reggisf ter with e hole 16) in the rodeo that a aprinp pressed stud (17) carried by the socket may drop into there istering hole and aperture `isis to lock the switc i rigidly in closed position, and prevent the exit ol' a train on the side, track. A heev coiled spring (18) encircles the rod, one en( of the s ring hearingnninstthe end of the'socket on the other and ol.' the springbeerin against the rod. This spi-ing normally teni s to hold the )in (14) at` the in ner end of theelot and suc spring is strong enough to overcome thc weight of the -iwitcli tongueefend connected parts and the friction caused in moving the switch from one posiswitch from the oppoiiite'direction,`

e pro-Y ordinarily the tension ol' the spring' in clfcct converts the sectional telescopic switch har into a rigidyone piece ba r which is swung hack 'and forth by the lever in the usual operation of openiii 'f and closing .the switch.

l\ c will now assume that n train has passed onto t'he spur or side track 13,11, and 'that the hrakeinaii has left the switch o ien. The en inecr'ol a train following tho l"rst train wi l from the signaltl'iut the lswitch is open, hut he may be too close to the switch and triivelin iit too rapid arat-e to apply the brakes am prevent his train lroin taking the side truck. The contact meniwill engage the track nienibcr connected to the switch tongues and force tho track meniber over to close the lwitch and pci-mit the second train w-continue on the inain line. The operation ol' this part of in v iin'ention is as follows. 'lhe switch is iii thc position shown in Fig. 2. 'l`lie contact incinber under tlicpilot is thrown by the cugini-er nml engages the obliqnrly extending: glaive rail to throw it togetherwith thi` `witch longues, toward the switch stand to close the switch.

to .move relative to thc rigidly loc ed rod (18) iwznipreiuiini.r the latter. 'lhe nin (I4) travels toward *..ie outer cnil of the slot (l3), thc lot being: pielcriibl) slightly longer than the path of movement. ot' the switch ton vuen. The spring pressed stud (.17) carriei by the socket rides upon the surface ol tha rod until its aperture (15) registers with .the hole (.16) in tne rod whereupon the pinA snaps into the hole (16) and absolutely locks the switch in closed position so that. not even a movement ol' the lever S can throw the )Vlien the second train moves the switch tongues to closed position (the lever remainmer locked in open position) the telescopic the tension of spring: (1H) and ishelil in siii-li position by the stud (i7). ln ordi-i' to rottirn the switch now closed, to open posii lion, it would he necessary to movc the le ver farther in the direction in which it was liist swung by the brakeinnn. Such Inrther inoveincnt of the laverie impossiblennd henceI the switch' remains locked in closed her on the pilot ol the second-train howovoig' Thisciiusee the socket (1U), and'its Ein (14) p (1l) and against the tcmioii ol the npringA el its movement and locks it, the telescopic switch har being in extended posit-ion.

switch hai; is contracted or shortened'against `misl switch back to open position.- The-slot i vimag. (2l) engsies Meer B iition until released in s msnner hereiner referred to. When released, the tenn of the spring at once asserts itself and l either nutoiiiaticsll return the switch open position or w l rotate the scmnre shaft, to closed position providin the .ft operi'itingleveris unlocked. The ookof the er. Etch in closed oeition operntes prevent a trein on the sii e trsck from reering the iimin line and I may so mclose switch haii' nnd rod that no soeces may had thereto without s special key for irince. This nrrnii ment would necessie notifying sii oliicisl und result in the ection -of the careless binkeman. In s this construction is considered to be irscticsble because .of dissrrsnging the in schedule, I may nrrsnge the construci as shown sc ,thst the brskeniiin hfv the of s' crow bnr or other suitable too miiy the spring pressed locking stud (17) out the hole (lo of the bnr where on the ing (I8) wil either sutomsticel y force socket (l und switch tongues to open ition or vii-i rot-ste the semnphoie shaft tion.

l by s contset member of sny convenient. n osrried b thc second train. l willnow -ribe cnc o s number oi constructions of tsct members which might be used. tsbly locsted on the engine and preferr on the pilot I mount s shoe` ndspted to tsct with the' glance mil. The. gliinee.rnil ht bc'locntcd outside the main trnck. Iii present s plicsticn I lieve illustmted s tset mem r comprising n bent or sn upivotslly supported piste (I9) the ree of which normally proects upward et eand csrrics sii enti riction roll thcresr engi of the e, its function ing' to sutcmstieslly w theplste to one or the-other of its exie posi ions after. the plste has assed its l center inone direction or te other. in the oo'ntsct membenis in -its-rsised tion it'will not engsge the tuck-member, trsckrsils or other ohetructions.` In orto permit the engineer to throw the oonmem'ber into operstiv'e position' I ms ride lever (22) to which one end of s lin is connected, the op ite end of the being loosel connecter to the piste (19). :his means he engineer on sppronching tch, can move his lever to throw' cont'sct member down where it will enthe trsck member and close the switch. i obvious, however, that if a trsin is cling st y speed, the engineer will not' .ble to re urn the contact member to :lcxssition between the time when the y i member lesvee the trsck member the time it xesches'the switch rails. efore I provide s resetting member, one aliment ofv which consists of s rsil (27) inclined iipwiirdl in the direction of travel of the engine.` 'l` iis rsil extends in allnement with the psth of trsvel of the contsct memtlie track member. As the contact member lesves tlie trsck member, it enfxg'es the inclined resetting rsil (27) sm is' thereby thrown peut its desd center whereupon the spring 1)'will reise the contact member to its upwsnlly inclined position. I msy also opposite side of the switch to reset s contsct member which may have been thrown down hv sn engineer spprosching the switch from the op ite direction (shown b srmwz). It is o course unneceess for t e engineer o throw the contsct mem r into o rstive ition even though the switch is open, irst, because there is no track member to be l operated end secondly, if the contsct member remained in its lowered position it would l engege snd dsms i ns well se itselt'..v irdly, when the swi is g open, the telesci-ipic switch bsr is slwsys in j extended position even though the lever (8) me.) be locked. As the trsin trsveling in the direc' ion indicated by thesrrowzI s prosches i the switch tongues, the snges of t e wheels l will crowd the switch tongues over to closed i position forcing the socket (l0) on to the rod (11) the pin (H) moving in its slot (13) against the-tension of spring (18) until the pin 17 registers with the hole l5, whereupon the pin will enter the hole und lock the switch in closed position.

The intervsLof time between the throwing of the conte/ct member into oper-stive position snd its return to raised position is extremely short especially when the trein is running st's high rste of speed. Nstursll if there is s sitive connection between t lever (22) and the'contsct member, tluen neer will hsrdly hsve time to release e ver before it is thrown back by the' 'resetting 'of the contact member. It'might hs 'pen thst the engineer might get in the way olf) the lever or m' ht not release it in time und the blok lssho the lever would inflict greet initiiy, to svoid -which I provide s loose connecion between the lever snd the contsct membetnvhichfwill permit the ooirtsct member to be thrown downinto operative position by the engineer, but will not rmit t e resetting of the contact member rom thev csb; As one 'su mesns .I may provide the forwsrd end of the'link with an sgverture (24esdspted` to locsted sest upons pin (2 tween the arms o a yoke (2o) csrriod b the plete (19) intennediste its ends. The ink is received and guided between the srms o'f the yoke (26) snd ol' s second unsesting yoke (28) proect' (19 eforwsrd end ofthe link insy 'inherently resilient so'thst the spertuie is normally held in place 'on theepin. When provide s similar resetting menibcr on the.

the inner switch rstiif .u wsrdfrom the resi' end of the ber its lower end lying sdjscent the end of i iso "' grigie.'

the engineer throws the lever (22) to move the contact member into operative position draw theflin backward and when the aperture (24) in thelink registers with the pin y (25),A theinhcrent resilience of the link will cause it to seat over the pin, thus restoring the engineers control of the contact ineinier.

It is evident that changea mi ht he inode in the form and arrangement o the several parts described without departing fromthe spirit and scopo of my invention. vHence, 1 do not wish to limit myself to the exact construction heroin set-forth.

Having thus fullydisclosed my invention, what I claim as new isz- 1. An automatic switch mechanism comprising a switch, a pivotcd laterally movable track member connected thereto, a traveling contact member normally ,out of operativo position and combined manually actuated, and automatic means for moving the contact 'memhr into `gperative the track mein poeition to en age r and actuate the switc i.v 2. An automatic switch mechanism coniprising e lswitch, a track member connectez! thereto, a traveling contact member consisting of a pivotally mounted support, a roll oa by the support, a lever, a connect-inf link, and a loose connection between the lin and suA the ro into operative position. g

3. An automatic switch mechanism com- `prising.aawitch, a track member connected heretofa pivotally mounted travcliiigcontact member adapted to eniage the track member to throw .the switc a insetting member adapted to be engaged by the contact member to replace the sinne, and lmeans connected with the contact memberlor throwing the latter into operative posi-4 loosely tion. y

4. An automatic switch mechanism com'- pnsing a switch, a track member connected thereto, a traveling contact member, the

contact member consisting.of a pivotally mounted support, .a roll on the support, a -oke carried by thesupport, a pin proiectmg tween the arms of the yoke, a link received and guided between the arms ofthe yoke, the link having an aperture normally, seating upon thc-'pim a lever conti-olling'the' link and means foraiitomatically unseating the linkfas the support is thrown `into operative position to engage the trae-kmciiihe'r.

5. An automatic switch mechanism comprising a switch, a track member'gconneoted port for tilting the support to throw meer '0. An automatic. switch. mechanism coin- I pi'isiiig a swit'eh a track member connected thereto, a mova ly su poi-ted traveling contact member, .means or thiowiiig the contact member into operativeposition toenygage the track member, and means for nutomutieully moving thc contact member to one or tho other of its extremo positions after it has passedits dcad center.

7. A switch mechanism Acoiiipi'isinilr a switch, a sectional telescopic switch means connecting thc sections to permit a limited movement only ol one soc-tion rolativc to thc other yielding means for normally maintaining the switch bar iii oxtcndcd position, a switch lever for throwing the switch iii citliei direction when the bar is in oxtend- Y v5 I ed position, a track member connected with the switch, a traveling contact member adapted to cnvegc the track member to crow'l the switc over to one of its positions and telescope the switch bai' a ainst tho ten- K sion ol' the yielding means and ocklng means in teh-scoped position when actuated by a passing train.

y 8. An automatic switch mechanism coiiii prisiiig a switch, 'a sectional switch bar, one of the sections sliding relativoA to the other.

for automatically retaining the switch bar yielding,1 means adapted to overcome the inertia. of the switch for normsll hretaining the sliding suction at one limit o its movement and the switch bar extended, a switch lcverifor openin and closing the switch while tlio'switcli r is in extended position only, a track member connected 'to thc slidinnr `sect ion ol' the switch bar, and a traveliii v vcontact member adapted to engage the trac member when the switch is open to move the sliding section of the switch bar relative to thc remaining section and close the switch.

9. An automatic switch mechanism com# prising a switch, a switch' bar having a socket on one end, a track member connected izo to the switch bar, a rod received in the socket, f

the rod havin a slot near its inner endy and a hole iut-crmci iate its ends, a pin extending across the socket through the slot, a spring v pressed stud receivedA in an aperture in the socket', a switch stand to which the outer end of the rod is connected, a spnn the o posite ends of which engage the soc et an rod respectively, and a' traveling contact mem.

ber adapted to en age the track member to force the socket o tension of the sprin until the spring pressed stud registers with t e hole in the rod to lock the switch in closed position.

l0. 'An automatic switch mechanism comprising a switch. a switch liar, a socket on the switch bar, a rod received in the socket. means for loosely connecting the socket and rod to permit a relative movement of the rod and bar, means for normally retaining the socket and rod at their extreme opposite Iiinits of movement, means for reciprocating the rod slid bar to open and close the switch,

a traveling contact member adapted to en.

gage the track member when the switch is open to move the socket relative to thc rod. aml means for locking the socket and rod together in their telescoped position to prevent a subsequent movement ot the switch to open position. n

Il. An automatie'switch mechanism coinirising a switch, a switch bar. a track inemr connected to the switch bar. a rod so connected to the switch bar as to permit relative movement of the bar, a spring normall) retaining the rod and bar at cxtreme opposite limits of movement, means havingv n imited movement normally adapted to reciprocate the rod and bar to open and close the switch, a traveling contact member adapted to engage thetiaclc member when the switch is o ien to closo the switch against v the tension ofthe spring. `and means for loc ing the switch bar to the i-od in their telescoped position to prevent the subsequent openin of the switch.

l2. ii automatic. switch mechanism com prising a switch, a ack member connected ong the rod against thev tact membenmeans normall ms? l l Il gineer's contr l.

I3. An automatic switch mechanism 'compricing a switch a track member connected thereto, a iiiova ly supported traveling conretaining the member iii inoperative position andmoans operated by the engineer for t wiring the contact member into operative position and simultaneously removing it from the engineers control. and means engaged by the contact member for replacing it underthe entrineer's control.

4. A switch mechanism comprising a switch, a switch lever ascetional bai connectin the switch and lever, one of the sections ieiiig connected to and c able of a limited movenivizi only relative t the other to permit movement of the switch relative to the lever when the hitter is in one position, a spring normiillig tending to maintain thc sections in extended position and overcome the inertia of the switch, a track member connected with the switch, and a traveling contact member adapted to e age the track member and crowd vthe swilt the tension of thc spring.

ln testimony whereof, 1 have axcd my signature in presence of two witnesses.

e t FRED M. OEDElt.

Witnesses:

J. Rn. Anna?, ltssrii S. Westlaw.

i over against u. husk.. .s 

